McAuley spring play is sister act

McAuley High School's spring play is "Once On This Island," a contemporary, Caribbean-flavored musical by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and based upon the book "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy.

The performance dates of "Once On This Island" are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 22 and March 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24. Ticket prices are $6 for students and senior citizens, and $8 for adults.

According to Emily Lafferty, McAuley director, "Once On This Island" is the original and theatrical adaptation of the popular fairy tale "The Little Mermaid."

In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death.

There are three pairs of high school/grade school sisters in the show. McAuley senior Elizabeth Baxter is playing the parts of Lady Armand and the gate keeper, while her younger sister Samantha is in the chorus. Samantha is an eighth-grader at St. Catharine of Siena School in Westwood. Samantha said she "loves being able to spend time with Liz because I usually don't have any time alone with her."

Sophomore Emily Popp really enjoys having her sister, St. Vivian seventh-grader Amanda, in the cast with her. "It's nice. We are both so busy with our activities. This is a place where we can hang out," Emily said. She plays the part of Ague, one of the gods, and Amanda is in the chorus.

Lynn Shutte, one of the narrators of "Once On This Island," is sharing the stage with her little sister, Lizzy, a fifth-grader at St. Peter in Chains School in Hamilton. "It adds a new level of 'personal' to the show," Lynn said. "I like being on stage with my sister instead of just watching from the audience," Lizzy said.

For more information, contact Emily Lafferty at laffertye@live.mcauleyhs.net.

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McAuley spring play is sister act

McAuley High School's spring play is 'Once On This Island,' a contemporary, Caribbean-flavored musical by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and based upon